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SAN ANTONIO — Tyreke Evans is a significant upgrade from Lance Stephenson, which is why the Indiana Pacers made the move over the summer.

The eye test alone was enough. Before the L.A. Lakers signed Stephenson, they pursued Evans but he declined their offer. They knew he was the better option, too.

A side benefit is that Cory Joseph plays much better with Evans to double the impact for the Pacers, who appear to have figured out that part of the equation.

"We both look for each other to attack. We talked to each other before the game. The second unit, we got to come in with energy, keep it going because we pretty much could be a starting the unit," Evans said after he had a season-high 19 points, five assists and two steals in a 116-96 blowout of the Spurs on Wednesday. "That's the way we look at it, go get the rebound, push it, kickouts (for 3s) and try to attack."

The Pacers' backup guards are among the league's best tandems. They can play with or without the ball. They can win games on their own. In terms of offensive and defensive ratings, the Pacers' most potent five-man lineups include Joseph and Evans.

Evans, who has played on mostly losing teams where he could dominate the ball, has had to adapt to more ball movement and coach Nate McMillan's pressure and recover defensive demands. Joseph spent four seasons with the Spurs, a franchise that built a dynasty on both principles for the past two decades.

Victor Oladipo played well. Thaddeus Young put the clamps on LaMarcus Aldridge. Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis made their presences felt, too, in getting their first win on the road.

When Joseph and Evans entered, they inspired run after run after run. It didn't even require them to score every time, though it seemed as if they did.

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How Indiana Pacers players have fared in their first five games.
Scott Horner, scott.horner@indystar.com

The Pacers had 34 assists on 46 field goals. Joseph had four. He helped rebound inside where he grabbed six and initiated the fast break. He converted four 3-pointers, sparking a 17-for-32 effort overall from deep. The Spurs couldn't keep up.

"They're still learning to play with each other in that second group," McMillan said. "They're trying to get a rhythm. I'm trying to get a rhythm with them as far as the things we can do. We want to play that way offensively. The challenge with the second unit is we come out and defend and get the ball moving offensively. They've been pretty good when they've done that."

At 6-6, Evans gives McMillan the option to use three-guard lineups by moving him to small forward. Matador defense isn't going to cut it. Evans has to chase 3-point shooters such as Marco Belinelli to keep him from taking them, fight over screens and recover to his man with rear-view pursuit and dig down into the paint to help his bigs defend post-ups. There's no coasting.

"We've all got to rebound. All the guards help the bigs out and push the ball. He's right," Evans said of McMillan. "We've got to play defense. Our offense will come.

"I know I can do it. That's all it's about. Effort. Once you do that, you're good."

Wednesday's game was a shining example for a team that can look stellar or stagnant on any given night on offense, or passive or aggressive on defense.

Evans blocked Belinelli at the rim on his drive. Joseph hit a 3. Evans stole it from Pau Gasol and then drained a 3. Then Joseph made another long ball and grabbed a rebound.

They extended a 17-17 tie to 28-22 going into the second quarter. Joseph made another 3, got a steal and Evans dropped in a 3 for what grew into a 45-30 edge before halftime.

"The first unit did a good job of setting the tone and they took it to another level," Oladipo said. "That's huge when your team can do that for 48 minutes.

"We moved the ball. It translates to being in unison and being together on the defensive end as well. When everybody feels good, everybody's touching it, everybody wants to defend."

The duo was far from done.

The Spurs were teetering. They'd cut the deficit to 72-62 on DeMar DeRozan's mid-range jumper until the reinforcements returned.

Joseph and Evans didn't score during that stretch to end the third but the lead grew to 17 with them on the floor. That's just as good as any made shot.

Evans capped it by scoring 13 in the fourth. He has yet to hit top form.

"I think we can do that every night," Evans said. "If we move the ball like that, guys getting open shots, it just felt easy."

That's what Joseph has done from the first game. He's averaging 9.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists and has made 57.1 percent of his 3s.

"He's going to hustle. He's going to make the right plays," Young said of Joseph. "He's going to play great basketball."

In his first game back since spraining his left ankle in the season opener, T.J. Leaf found the vibe contagious.

Leaf didn't score in 13 minutes but assisted on nice finds for Joseph for a 3 and Sabonis underneath for a bucket.

"When the second unit comes in, no dropoffs. We feel like we have one of the better second units out there," Leaf said. "With Cory and Tyreke facilitating, me and Doug (McDermott) and Domas doing the pick-and-roll, it's fun to play when you're moving the ball like that. It's all you can ask for."